Eugene weekly., July 03, 2008, Page 9, Image 9

viewpoint/opinion
BY CHARLES DALTON
Building Trust
Begin with support for the independent auditor
O
n June 3 a press conference was held at the Eugene City Hall, hosted by
a diverse group of Eugene citizens, in response to a series of statements,
actions, newspaper commentaries, and cartoons by the Eugene Police
Employees Association (EPEA) in opposition to the fl edgling po-
lice auditor program and external Civilian Review Board.
Our press conference had three goals:
1. Publicly ask both mayoral candidates and the
police chief whether or not they support the police
auditor and the Civilian Review Board.
2. Call on all voters/citizens to contact heir local
elected offi cials to express support for the police
auditor and the Civilian Review Board.
3. Urge all in our community to improve the
dialogue surrounding this community debate with
civilized, respectful discourse.
Our press conference included comments from included Carol Berg-Caldwell,
Guadalupe Quinn, Peter Sorenson, Dave Fidanque, Carly Barnicle and myself.
Since then we have heard or read the public responses of Mayor Piercy, former
Mayor Torrey and Police Chief Lehner.
Mayor Piercy has strongly reiterated her longtime support for the police
auditor, Christine Beamud, and the Civilian Review Board. Former Mayor Torrey
has stated his support for the auditor and review board with the caveat that they
be under the city manager instead of the City Council. Chief Lehner wrote a public
statement that seems to give general support to the auditor and the review board.
We appreciate his detailed review of the work that went into the creation of the
auditor position and review board.
We understand that the police auditor/review board are in their fl edgling stages.
It is our hope that unlike the experiences in some other communities, it will be a
program that will be transparent and not co-opted by any special interests. We all
have much to gain in the arenas of mutual trust and community well-being if the
police auditor and the external police review board are allowed to do their careful,
professional work investigating allegations of police misconduct. Sometimes the
complaints will prove groundless and sometimes the offi cers involved will have
erred. Either way the community will have been served. Trust among all, including
the community and the police, is essential for the rule of law to work.
To conclude, we extended an invitation to the leadership of the EPEA to attend
our press conference and we appreciate that they did contact us to let us know
their entire day, June 3, was taken up in labor negotiations. However, Capt. Steve
Swenson came to observe. We look forward to opportunities for open-hearted,
respectful communication and dialog with EPEA leaders. We also encourage
everyone to contact his or her city offi cials on this topic. Democracy only works
with public participation.
We thank everyone who attended our press conference. We truly are in this
together. We raise our families here, shop, work, play and worship here. People of
good will and integrity can work together to address community/police relations,
and the result will be healing.
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Charles Dalton of Eugene is the former president of the local chapter of the NAACP and a longtime advocate
for human and civil rights. His is a program manager and customer services manager at EWEB.
MERGING TRAFFIC CONCERNS
with Environmental Protection &
Land-Use Planning for West Eugene
The West Eugene Collaborative has brought together two dozen citizens
representing many parts of Eugene’s diverse community to find solutions
to the traffic problems of West Eugene that don’t neglect related issues.
After 18 months and hundreds of volunteer hours, we want you to tell
us how we’re doing. Please join us for one of these Open Houses or log
on and give us feedback. Together we can build solutions that will last.
ATTEND AN OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEK:
• Petersen Barn Community Center
6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday July 8th
• Veneta Community Center
6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday July 8th
• Boys & Girls Clubs, 1545 W. 22nd Ave.
7:00-9:00 p.m., Thursday July 10th
• Downtown Library, Bascom/Tykeson Rooms
6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday July 10th
or visit www.orconsensus.pdx.edu
Join Us & Help Build an
EMERGING CONSENSUS
The West Eugene Collaborative has received assistance from the Oregon Consensus Program.
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EUGENE WEEKLY JULY 3, 2008 9